Just as we tend to repress the dark side of our nature and project it onto scapegoats, we also tend to repress our divine attributes and project them onto...scapegoats. These are usually the individuals we see swishing down a red carpet in a designer frock or suit.
We call them stars, idols, and goddesses. We call ourselves fans, short for fanatics.
We grant them royal titles such as the King of this and the Queen of that and place them up on a pedestal.
Sometimes they are bemused by it all. Sometimes they believe all the hype.
Although we're much less worshipful than previous generations, we're still somewhat baffled and unforgiving, if they topple off their pedestal and turn out to be only human.
We talk of stars imploding and call them fallen idols or fallen angels. We get to participate and comment on their downfall on interactive forums like a chorus in a Greek tragedy.
If we lose them prematurely, we might forget about them and replace them with a new icon. Or we might bestow them with immortality and elevate or restore them to cult or godlike status. And then the whole cycle begins again.
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